[gentle music] [water splashing] - [Presenter] As the summer heat subsides and the crisp fall air spills over the mountains, the Blue Ridge is one of the best places to watch the leaves [leaves rustling] and the seasons as they start to change.

Just beyond the parkway near Lake Lure, the forests transform, layer by layer, as elevation, temperature, and time work together.

- The Hickory Nut Gorge, which encompasses several little towns, from Gerton all the way down through Lake Lure, it has a drastic drop in elevation, which means that our fall color is amazing because it starts up close to 5,000 feet down to the low 1,200s.

It might be peaking up in Gerton and it's still green down in Lake Lure.

- [Presenter] With a variety of trails surrounding the lake and nearby Chimney Rock State Park, there's a perfect hike for anyone who wants to surround themselves in fall colors.

- [Emily] As soon as you step on that trail, you're disconnecting and reconnecting.

And regardless if it's here or anywhere else, it's just important for all of us to remember that there's so much you can find in nature that really settles you.

[water whooshing] The best place to see fall color is when you're standing on one of the outcroppings looking out, and so you can look west and see the higher elevations or maybe a peak, and then look east and see where it hasn't even started to turn yet.

[gentle music continues] [water whooshing] When you're out there in the woods, you realize where you fit in.

I think it helps a lot of us find what we've been searching for, which is a little bit more quiet.

[bright music continues] [leaves rustling] [birds chirping] [insects chirping] People will say, "Oh, I've already hiked that trail.

I've already been to that peak."

It changes every day.

So even if you've done it once before, try it again.

I've worked here 20 years, but I never see the same thing twice.

[birds chirping]